“Mean Mom” Takes a Stand on No Alcohol Rule

A woman from Iowa is becoming a bit of a celebrity because of an ad she is running in The Des Moines Register to sell her teenage son’s car. Much to her son’s dismay, the ad reads:

“OLDS 1999 Intrigue. Totally uncool parents who obviously don’t love teenage son, selling his car. Only driven for three weeks before snoopy mom who needs to get a life found booze under front seat. $3,700/offer. Call meanest mom on the planet.”

The car sold within 2 weeks, but mom Jane Hambleton is running the ad for another week, just for the feedback. Says Hambleton, “It’s overwhelming the number of calls I’ve gotten from people saying ‘Thank you, it’s nice to see a responsible parent.’ So far there are no calls from anyone saying, ‘You’re really strict. You’re real overboard, lady.”‘

Her son, on the other hand, is said to be “very, very unhappy” with the ad and claims the alcohol was left by a passenger.

While this may be an extreme example, research has shown that parents who make it known that they disapprove of their kids drinking and doing drugs have a positive impact on their children’s behaviors. According to the national Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse [CASA. (2005)], nearly 3 times as many teens (43%) who say their parents wouldn’t particularly disapprove of their having 1 or 2 alcoholic drinks nearly every day report current alcohol use compared to teens who say their parents would strongly disapprove (15%).

Crossroads is CARF accredited, a member of the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers, and is committed to providing high quality care to women, men, and families struggling with substance use and mental health disorders.